Sourav fails, Mishra shines as India A gains upper hand

Published: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 19:33 [IST]

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Chennai, Oct 4 (UNI) Celebrating his selection in the national team for the first two Tests against Australia, leg spinner Amit Mishra produced a dream spell, claming six wickets for 81 runs as India A dismissed New Zealand A for 315 in the first innings of the second and last four day match here today.

In reply, India A were 162 for 3 at stumps.

India A's innings has started on a distatours note as opener Sahil Kukreja fell without troubling the scorers.

Suresh Raina also did not contribute enough with the bat as the skipper fell cheaply for just 14.

However, Opener M Vijay who was at the crease when the stumps were drawn, was rescued the India A innings with Chateswar Pujara.

Vijay scored a fluent 76 with the help of nine fours and two sixes while was batting on 49 with four hit to the fence.

The host were still 153 runs behind to overhaul the Kiwis first innings score.

The cynosure of all eyes, former captain Sourav Ganguly, however, failed to impress the crowd and the national selectors who had asked him to play this game to test his form and fitness, having picked him for the first two Tests against the Aussies from October 9.

The former Indian skipper scored just 14 runs of the 39 balls he faced before running hinself out. He called Vijay who was on strike for a run after the latter played the ball to midwicket.

But before Sourav could complete the run, New Zealand A fielder Marshall hit the stumps with a direct hit.

Earlier, Amit Mishra ran through the Kiwi batting when they resumed their first innings from a strong position at their overnight score of 270 for three.

Barring Greg Hay (49) and James marshall (31) the remaining Kiwi batsmen fell like nine pins to Mishra who bowled 35 overs in five spells to claim six wickets while R P Singh and R Jadeja took two wickets each.